Protecting the Americus area of Lafayette, Indiana.
Many are concerned about the LEAP Project near Lebanon and want to convey their thoughts & opinions to their representatives. With re-districting some representatives have changed. Below are the ones that represent most of our area. Feel free to e-mail them.
U R G E N T
Please e-mail or call your local representative or senator to oppose these bills:
1) HB 1337 goes to the full House Mon, Feb 22.
Don Lehe h25@iga.in.gov
Chris Campbell h26@iga.in.gov
Sheila Klinker h27@iga.in.gov
Tim Brown h41@iga.in.gov
Speaker Todd Huston h37@iga.in.gov
This would change the approval process for special exceptions and variances. The Board of Zoning Appeals would hear the petition but only make a RECOMMENDATION to the legislative body (City Council or Co. Commissioners), who would make the final decision within 60 days or it would automatically be approved. This undermines the Area Plan Commission and the BZA.
2) HB 1496 goes to the Senate.
senator.buchanan@iga.in.gov
senator.alting@iga.in.gov
Rep. Jeff Ellington, as he has done before, added language from his unheard bill, as a NEW section in an amendment:
“A permit issued under sec. 22(g)(1) of this chapt on or before July 1, 2014, for quarrying or aggregate company that is active for excavation of …(lists types of stone) …is valid for the duration of permitted project. . . “
The word ‘active’ could be eliminated and the meaning expanded to apply to Americus. We believe the retroactive date should be changed from 2014 to 2020. This would totally eliminate the Rogers Group permit issued Jan. 30, 2014.
3) SB 389 is on its way to the House.
Don Lehe h25@iga.in.gov
Chris Campbell h26@iga.in.gov
Klinker h27@iga.in.gov
Tim Brown h41@iga.in.gov
Speaker Todd Huston h37@iga.in.gov
This puts all wetlands in the same category and allows construction without a permit. Floodplains are wetlands. Isolated Wetlands allow for rain to filter as it replenishes groundwater and aquifers. Sen. Alting voted against it.
Click here for more details on Wetlands and Flood Plain Benefits….
4) Encourage your legislators to advocate for remote or virtual testimonies because of the COVID-19 restrictions and concerns.
800-382-9841 House Republicans 800-382-9842 House Democrats
800-382-9467 Senators Republicans and Democrats
Hello AACC community! The 2019 Indiana Legislative Session has begun. There are currently 3 bills of concern that we would like your help showing opposition to. These Bills could have an impact on the ability of the Rogers Group to put the stone quarry in Americus if passed.
Please consider a short e-mail opposing these bills: HB1531, HB1513 and HB1265.
HB1531. Why? same language as last year.
1- prohibits county ordinances, Commissioners, or Area Plan Comm. from regulating quarrying on private property. Only state permits needed; avoids local government; bypasses local control.
2 – increases the number of residences (8 to 20) in ¼ square mile to be considered ‘urban’.
HB 1513 increases permit length from 2 yrs to 5 yrs with an extension of 2-5 yrs.
HB 1265 establishes a study committee to study ‘riparian rights, which means property owners could do what they wanted with land along a waterway without consideration of neighbors. i.e. put in a quarry.
Put comments in your own words; form letters are disregarded. If you prefer to call, 1-800-382-9841
Thank you in advance for your assistance and support.
The representatives listed below are the Republicans on Local Government Comm who will hear HB 1531.
Local Reps and Committee members for HB 1531:
Don Lehe h25@iga.in.gov
Dennis Zent, chr h51@iga.in.gov
Chris May, v-chr h65@iga.in.gov
Mike Aylesworth h11@iga.in.gov
Bruce Borders h45@iga.in.gov
Karen Engleman h70@iga.in.gov
Matt Hostettler h64@iga.in.gov
Randy Lyness h68@iga.in.gov
Tom Saunders h54@iga.in.gov
The Natural Resources committee will hear HB 1513 and HB 1265. The representatives on that committee include:
Chair Sean Eberhart: H57@iga.in.gov
Rep. David Abbott: H82@iga.in.gov
Rep. Mike Aylesworth: H11@iga.in.gov
Rep. Shane Lindauer : H63@iga.in.gov
Rep. Mike Karickhoff: H30@iga.in.gov
Rep. Alan Morrison: H42@iga.in.gov
Rep. J.D. Prescott: H33@iga.in.gov
Rep. Dave Wolkins: H18@iga.in.gov
Links to House Bills:
HB 1531 http://www.iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1531#document-fc7a1297
HB 1513 http://www.iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1513#document-d79251fa
HB 1265 http://www.iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1265#document-b1458316
Thank you for your support!
Bill and Kay Miller
co-presidents
Americus Area Community Coalition
The Rogers Group did not appeal the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) decision made by the Tippecanoe County Commissioners this past October. You can read the Journal & Courier article here.
The language they wanted to use in the BZA special exception was combined into an Indiana House of Representatives 1289 bill that would affect the whole state.
Representative Jeff Ellington of Bloomington has said he will introduce it again in the next session, January 2019.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the activity at the state level.
Kay and Bill Miller
Co-Presidents, AACC
County ponders mining ban on floodplains
Bangert: Americus breathes easier as quarry bill dies again … and again at Statehouse
All of us at the Americus Area Community Coalition were saddened to hear the news of the loss of one of our own last week.
If you attended any of our meetings in the past, the first smiling face to greet you at the door was that of Nancy Balser. A resident of Ben La Del for many years, Nancy volunteered to work the front desk at every public AACC function. In addition to being a greeter, Nancy also kept a scrapbook of our fight against the Rogers Group stone quarry.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy’s family. She will be missed.
The Americus Area Community Coalition is preparing for the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting scheduled for October 25, 2017 at 6pm. Following is some important information to help us all be prepared.
https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10252017-978?html=true
https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/6408?fileID=10694
Please take the time to read this staff report so you will be fully informed ahead of the BZA hearing.
If you want to write a letter to the BZA here are the guidelines you must follow:
As recently noted by the Lafayette Journal & Courier,
The Rogers Group filed a request for a special exception to Tippecanoe County’s zoning codes, in hopes of opening a quarry first proposed in 2013. The request, the final step in the application process, will go to the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 27.
If you haven’t followed the story, you can get the full scoop in the documentary created by Colleen Harvey.
The citizens of Americus, IN take on the Rogers Group Corporation in a fight to stop a stone mining operation from shattering their small community.
You can also read the recent J&C article here: Fight over Americus quarry plan along Wabash River comes to a head
Mark your calendar to attend the next AACC public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 21, 7pm:
Wolfe’s Leisure Time Campground
7414 Old State Road 25 N, Lafayette, Indiana 47905
Mark your calendar to attend the Board of Zoning Appeals hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6pm:
Tippecanoe County Office Building
20 N 3rd St, Lafayette, Indiana 47901
On the Thursday, January 26, the Rogers Group filed again to go the Tippecanoe County Board of Zoning Appeals for a special exception to permit a mining operation in Americus. Following are a couple of helpful links that provide additional detail.
Area Planning Commission: https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/AgendaCenter
APC Executive Committee Feb. 1 Agenda
https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/02012017-827?html=true
Board of Zoning Appeals Feb. 22 Agenda
https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4991?fileID=7752
A. DETERMINATION OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION (BZA-1957 ROGERS GROUP, INC.) document
https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/5000?fileID=7751
Details will be released here (www.AmericusACC.com) and on our facebook page (STOP The Stone Quarry).
Look for a public meeting in the near future.
Appreciative for your continued support,
AACC Advisory Board
Americus Area Community Coalition
Thursday, June 16
7:00 PM
Wolfe’s Leisure Time Campground Rec. Hall
Try a free sample of Schwan’s ice cream.
Scrap metal drive will accept items.